Latch



E. CHOMPTUN Ah LAYCH.

APPLICAHQN FILED MAY a, 1920.

C. L. CRUOKS.

Patented June i3, 1922.

EDWIN CROMFTON AND CHARLES L. OROOK, OF IUEBL, GOLORAD.

LATCH.

ramasse.

Speciication of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1922.V

Application led May, 1920. Serial No. 379,896.

adapted for use on doors of vehicles such as automobiles, but it will be understood that certain features of the invention are of utility in other types of latches andJ also in locks. The term latch is to be understood broadly herein to include both latch and lock constructions.

Latches used on automobile doors are generally subjected to much vibration which causes the latch and keeper parts and the door to wear and rattle. Automobile doors are also often slammed shut and subjected to other hard usage which places extra stress on parts of the latch and the keeper and in time results in loosely. fitting connections and rattling. An important object of this invention is to provide a'latch in which substantially all play between various parts of the latch and between the latch and keeper is taken up in such a way as to substantially eliminate wear and rattling. Another object is to provide a keeper which will cooperate with the latch bolt to readily receive the latter when the door is being closed in such manner as to make it unnecessary to slam the door, thus avoiding undue strain on the parts of the door and latch. A further object of the invention is to provide a keeper and mechanism which will cooperate with the latch bolt to hold the latter firmly when the door has been closed, thereby helping to eliminate wear and rattling. A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and rugged latch and keeper' construction especially adapted for use on small automobiles.

The above and other objects and the novel features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate twojforms of latches embodying my invention and in which* Figure l is a side elevational view of a latch and its cooperating keeper, the same thereof occupy when mounted on the door and door j'amb respectivelyof an automobile, part of such door and door .jamb being shown in dotted outline.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a keeper construction embodying my invention, parts Within the same being shown in dlotted lines and the position of the c0- operating keeper members being also shown 1n dotted lines, the bolt being shown in section 1n position in the keeper, the section belng taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the latch and cooperating keeper, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l, the bolt and its projecting spring being shown in elevation.

i Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another latch and cooperating keeper embodying this invention.

Figure 5 is a side or face view of the keeper illustrated in edge view in Figure 4, parts of such keeper being illustrated in dotted lines and the bolt being shown in a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Broadly speaking, thefpresent invention comprises a latch that is carried by a swinging door and has a projecting bolt that engages and is held in latched position. by a keeper member of special construction mounted on the cooperating door jamb, the arrangement being such that after such engagement of the keeper by the bolt, the door may be opened only by withdrawing the end of the bolt laterally from Within the keeper. In its latched position, the bolt is dogged or retained by a device or means arranged to be released in the act of unlatching the door and before the bolt is withdrawn from' the keeper. The keeper has elements which securely hold the bolt in latched position against abutment means to prevent wear and rattling, and the clogging or retaining means serves to also prevent accidental withdrawal of the bolt from the keeper. The herein disclosed forms of latch are advantageous and simple practical embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that, in its broader aspects, the novel features of the invention are not limited in their application to the particular forms of latches or shapes of elements illustrated.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, 10 designates the latch casing or mounting which may be of any desirable and suitable shape to support the latch bolt,` and the operating and retaining devices associated therewith. As here illustrated, the mounting 10 comprises a side plate that is provided with holes 11 to receive fastening devices such as screws for securing the latch to the door, indicated in dotted lines at D, the casing or mounting 10 heilig desirably placed within a suitable mortise in the door near the upper edge thereof. The casing member 10 has a right angle extension 12 at its front end constituting the front face of the latch' casing and arranged to lie flush with the free edge of the door. The extension 12 has a passage 13 therein for the bolt B which, at its rear end, slides ina passage 14 in a guide 15.* that is carried by the casing'member 10. The bolt B has a headl that is normally maintained in a position projecting through the passage 13 by 'a spring 17 that surrounds the bolt and has one end bearing against the inner side of the`r guide 15 and the other end bearing against the pin 18 carried by and projecting from opposite sides of the bolt. l

The outer end of the bolt normally projects from the free edge of the door; and when the door is swung to vclose it, the projecting end of the bolt B is engaged b v and retained iu a suitable keeper mounted on the door jamb. The keeper K hereinV illustrated is a desirable form of keeper for engaging the bolt and retaining the end thereof in latched position. The details of the keeper may of course be varied without modifying the essential features thereof. As

herein illustrated. the keeper K comprisesa face plate 2() and a rear plate 21 whiohl are spaced apart by a suitable number of sleeves 2Q and secured together in parallel spaced relation by screws 23' extending through such sleeves. The face plate Q0 is arranged to lie flushV with the edge of the door jamb` shown in dotted lines at J, and is secured thereto by suitable fastening screws or other devices inserted through the holes The forward edges ofthe plates 20 and 21 are recessed as at Q5 and Q6 to provide inwardly tapering notches in these plates having inner ends QT and 28 adapted to serve as abutments for the inner longitudinal edge of the head of the bolt B. The edges of the recesses are shaped so as to conform substantially to the shape of the surface of the bolt which they engage to provide an lextended abutment surface against which the bolt may bear.

Suitable means may be provided for retaining the boltin the recesses Q5 and 2G and against the stops or abutments 2T and 28. In the arrangement illustrated. two opposed hook shaped members Sfland b1 are provided. the same being pivoted in the space between the plates Q0 and :21 and on the pins 32 and 33 carried by these plates.

The hooked ends 301.and 311 of the members 3() and 3l are. disposed adjacent the front ends of the plates and normally lie in contact with one another in the space between the notches 25 and 26. The opposed edges of the outer extremities of the hook members are curved inwardly to provide a tapering entrance for the inner tapering side of the bolt and thus.to facilitate the separation of the hook members 3() and 31 when the door is swung shut. The hook portions of the members 30 and 31 are shaped so as to conform substantially to the shape of the sides of the bolt which they engage, so that they will have an extended bearing engagement with said bolt and will cooperate t0 firmly hold the bolt against the abutments 27 and Q8. thus preventing movement, wear and rattlingof the bolt and keeper. The members 3() and 31 arenormally in engagement and are pressed toward one another by suitable spring means. A desirable and efficient spring for this purpose, as herein illustrated, consists of a leaf spring 35 bent substantially into the shape of a horse-shoe or nearly circular` its free ends engaging in notches 36 on the outer edges of the hook members 30, 3l, and tending topress them together. The spring is suitably confined between the face plates 2O and 21 and the pins connecting such plates.

lVhen the bolt has been engaged in the keeper. the hooked ends 301 and 311 engaging the outer side of the bolt prevent movement of the latter in the opposite direction to open the door. The arrangement is such that the bolt must be retracted from the space between the keeper members 30, 31, v

and the abutments QT and 28. in a direction transversely of the keeper members and lengthwise of the bolt. After the bolt has been withdrawn from the keeper` the. door may be swung open. Suitable means should be provided for unlatching the bolt or retracting it from its latched position and into its casing. ln the arrangement shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, a lever L is provided which is suitably pivoted at its lower end on a pin 38 mounted on the casing 10. The upper end of the lever L projects to a position where it is accessible for manual operation and. as illustrated in the present instance. the upper end of the lever projects slightly above the upper edge of the door and is provided with a handle 39 at its upper end for operating the lever. Intermediate its ends. the rear edge of the lever L engages against a shoulder 40 of a recess Ll1 Ain the edge of the bolt. so that when the lever L is swung on the pivot 3S the edge thereof will engage the shoulder Je() and retract the bolt from the keeper l( into the casing l() against the tension ofthe .spring 17. lVhen the handle 39 is released the spring 17 will automatically project the bolt and throw the lio lever L to the position it occupies in Figure 1.

While it is not essential to the invention in its broader aspects that the bolt be dogged in its projected position, it has been found that when the bolt is so retained some objectionable play and wear are eliminated. The arrangement herein illustrated for dogging or retaining the bolt in projected position is a particularly simple and efficient one and consists of a hook shaped dog or retaining member 42` that is pivoted at one end on the pin 43, and provided with depending free end portion 44, adapted to normally engage behind a shoulder 45 at the yinner end ot the head 16 of the bolt. The dog 42 is raised' from and lowered into its (logging position by suitable means actuated by the operating lever L. As herein illustrated, such means consists of two projections`4'6 and 47 which respectively have cam edges 461 and 471 that respectively engage the edges 421 and 422 ot' the dog 42. ZrIhe cam edges 461 and 471 are so arranged that when the lever L is operated to retract the bolt or unlatch the door. the cam on the projection 47 lifts the dog 42 at the proper time to disengage the depending part 44 from behind the shoulder 45. and, reversely,v when .the bolt B has been shot to its projected position, the projection 46 is moved by the lever Ii so that its cam edge 461 presses against the upper edge 421 ot the dog and returns the end v44 to its clogging position behind the shoulder 45.

lVhile Figures 1. 2 and 3 show a latch construction in which the cross sectional' shape ofthe bolt is substantially triangular, bolts of circular-.or other cross-sectional shapes may be employed without sacrificing the advantages of the principles disclosed. Furthermore, it may be equally advantageous to employ a reciprocating bolt operating member and cooperating (logging or retaining means, and Figures 4 and 5 are illustrative of another form of latch in which such modifications` within the scope ot' this invention. have been embodied. In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 the cross sectional shape ot the bolt B is substantially circular and the opposed edges of the keeper members 30 and 31 are correspondingly shaped to substantially conform to the outer surface of the cylindrical head ot' this bolt. (A)therwise the keeper K is in all essential respects similar to the keeper K. in structure and in operation.

The actuating means of the latch and keeper construction shown in Figure 4 consists ot' a reciprocable operator or plunger P that carries an enlargement IC provided with parallel cam edges 50 and 51 adapted to engage and pass between anti-friction rollers 52 and 53 carried in an elongated slot 54 in the stem ofthe bolt I3'. The operating member P is guided in suitable openings in guide l'plates 56 and 57 mounted on the casingl member 10', and is provided at its upper end with a button or handle accessible to the operator and preferably disposed adjacent the upper edge of the door upon which the latch is mounted. `rlhefholt B is slidable yin guide openings 5S) and G0 in the Jfront tace 12 and guidehracket (S1 respectively, and is held in its projected position by a spring- 62 that surrounds the stem 63 of the operating member l) and also holds the latter in its upper or projected position, a stop 64 on the latter abutting against the underside ot the guide plate 5G. lt will be observed that the lower ends ot' the cam edges 5() and 51 are recessed to provide suitable pockets 65 and 66 adapted to receive the rollers 52 and 53 and releasably retain the bolt B in its projected position.l These rollers 52 and 53 interlock with the pockets 65 and 66, respectively, and serve to dog or lock the bolt B in projected position in a manner similar to the action ot' the dog 42 in the latch illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Downward depression of the operating member P serves first to release the retaining engagement otl the rollers and 53 from the sockets or notches 65 and 66, and thereafter the engagement ot' the cam edge 51 against the roller 53 acts to retract the bolt B from the keeper K. After the door has been swung open, and the hand is removed from the handle 58 of the operating member, the spring G2 acts' automatically to return the bolt B to its projected and dogged p'osition, the cam edge 50 engaging the roller to thrust or shoot the bolt to its Vprojected position.

In the keepers illustrated, both members 30. 31 and 31)', 31 are hook shaped and pivoted. It will beunderstood, however, that the opposing edges of the cooperating keeper members may be differently shaped, and in some tormsl of keepers one ot' the keeper members may be fixedor relatively stationary with (.)ther modifications within the scope of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art and therefore we do not wish to be limited to the exact arrangements illustrated and described.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a latch, the combination with a bolt. otl means for clogging said boltin projected position and swingable means for positively operating said dogging means to release or dog the bolt and 'for operating said bolt.

In a latch, the combination with a bolt having a shoulder. of a dog or retaining dcvice having a part adapted to migage b 'liind said shoulder, and a swingahlc operating member adapted to positiveljy operate said device to release or dog `said bolt and to opcrate said bolt.

respect to the other member.

43. In a latch, the combination with an integral bolt having a-shoulder.intermediate its ends, of a dog or retaining-device normally engaging behind said shoulder to re` tain said bolt in projected vposition and swingable means for releasing said dog or r having a shoulder intermediate its ends, of a dog or retaining device normally engaging behind said shoulder toretain said bolt in projected position, means for releasing said dog or retaining device and for retracting said bolt, such releasing and retracting means comprising a handle, and a spring for projecting said bolt and restoring said device to normal position. a 6. In a latch, the combination with a bol having a shoulder, of a dog or retaining device having a part adapted to engage behind said shoulder, and 'an operating member having means adapted to alternately engage opposite sides of said device to operate it to release or dog said bolt.

7. In a latch, the combination with a bolt having a shoulder, of a dog or similar retaining device having a part adapted to engage behind said shoulder, and a swinging lever for operating said device and said bolt, said lever having cam surfaces adapted to alternately engage opposite sides of said device to release said bolt or to dog the same.

8. In a latch, the combination With a reciprocable spring-projected bolt having a locking shoulder intermediate its ends, of a pivoted device having a depending part extending behind said shoulder to retain said bolt in its projected position, and a swingable lever having spaced projections above and below said device and adapted to engage and operate the latter, -said lever being also arranged to retract said bolt.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aiix our signatures.

v- EDWIN CROMPTON.

CHARLES L. CROOKS. 

